Marian

Not even a real novel, just a segue into the book

Revisado: 12-04-13

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I've read (or listened to) most of the dreck James Patterson has written over the years for one simple reason, the plots kept me going and served the purpose of filling the dead time while exercising and driving. This book, on the other hand, could not hold my attention. It was boring and thoroughly unbelievable. To top it off, the ending was a non-ending, merely a segue into the next book--which I'll be forced to buy just to find out how this one ends. Bad form.I'm really getting sick and tired of the trend that's emerging of authors dragging out a single novel into a pair or a trilogy. Think the Eve Trilogy from Iris Johansen and the penultimate and final books in the Alan Gregory series by Stephen White. Cross My Heart is the perhaps the most egregious of the offenders, however. Like most Patterson novels it is the length of a long novella, following the usual formula of very short chapters numbering around one hundred. If he'd just written a real novel, this might have been salvageable, albeit still far-fetched.If you are a compulsive Alex Cross reader, you'll buy this one too, just as I did. And I bet at the end you'll feel as betrayed as I was.

What could James Patterson have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Finish the book, not drag the plot over into a second book for no good reason.

Have you listened to any of Michael Boatman and Tom Wopat ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The narrator was fine. It's the book that was worthless.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

None.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Another great Reichs/Brennan novel, odd ending

Revisado: 08-29-10

As always, I really enjoyed this latest Tempe Brennan novel which sported a fast-paced plot and good, intriguing science. The ultimate ending was a bit overly convoluted but it was well supported by the rest of the plot. I especially enjoyed the depictions of CIL-HI operations.

Readers who enjoyed Thomas Holland's One Drop of Blood will likely enjoy this and vice versa.

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esto le resultó útil a 5 personas

Cardboard characters, so-so plot

Revisado: 08-29-10

This book was a real disappointment. The ending was telegraphed about two thirds of the way through the book and, while it had an interesting twist, the writing provided little support for the story. Worst of all, the characters were cardboard representations of conventional stereotypes--particularly the hero, who was depicted as the typical hostile, aggressive but highly competent NYC cop. The villian (or villians--don't want to spoil the plot) had no real motivation at all, at least none that rang true.

So, this novel filled up about 9 hours (part listened to as an audiobook, part read as an eBook at bedtime along the way) of dead time on a long driving trip, thus serving its primary purpose. Beyond that, however, it has little redeeming literary or social importance.

If reading co-authored James Patterson novels, I think I'll stick to the ones co-authored by either Maxine Paetro or Michael Ledgewick.

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esto le resultó útil a 10 personas

Fast paced, thoroughly enjoyable

Revisado: 08-30-09

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and, despite what others have said, thought the narrator was superb. I haven't particularly enjoyed Joseph Finder's last couple of novels, which were only so-so. However, Vanished represents a return to the action-packed, rough and tumble novel that I like so much from Finder, novels like Paranoia! Great book... I can't wait for the next Nick Heller novel.

My only complaint is that at the end of the book, we are told that there is a PDF containing Gabe's graphic novel on the CD. But there appears to be no way to obtain this PDF with the Audible version, much to my disappointment.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Superb-reminiscent of Greg Iles

Revisado: 06-28-06

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. The plot, with its miriad twists and turns, kept my attention. However, beyond having an excellent plot, this book also provided an excellent depiction of Southern living and mores. Indeed, the entire experience was reminiscent of Greg Iles, who is one of my favorite authors.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Excellent

Revisado: 06-28-06

Even though I sort of figured out the ending early on in this book, that did not detract from my enjoyment in listening to it. The characters are well developed, the plot has lots of convolutions and the author clearly knows forensic science. All in all, a great first novel. I look forward to his next, hopefully also starring McKelvey and Levine.

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esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Another excellent Madriani novel

Revisado: 07-31-05

Another excellent Madriani novel by Steve Martini. I only wish the unabridged version had been available, too.

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esto le resultó útil a 12 personas

A polemic against the death penalty

Revisado: 02-18-05

One would think a book with good character development and a timely topic would translate into a great read. And so it might be with Conviction, were it not for the fact that I was expecting a mystery novel and instead got a thinly veiled polemic against the death penalty.

This book plods along for far too long exploring each vagary of the lengthy appeals process in death penalty cases. It would have been better if it were shorter by half and, more importantly, if it had some exciting action (although some might suggest that the ending IS exciting--I just happen not to be among them). Clearly this is NOT one of Patterson's best books.

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esto le resultó útil a 3 personas

Even Michael Beck can't save this one

Revisado: 01-19-05

Even Michael Beck, who was wonderful as always reading Grisham, can save this book from itself. The descriptions of Italy are lyrical, but this is supposed to be a novel and a thriller to boot. Not only isn't this book thrilling, there is essentially no plot. What's more the characters are flat and not in the least bit engaging.

If you must have meandering descriptive prose from Grisham, then read The Last Juror in which the descriptions match those in The Broker, but which has engaging characters who develop as the plot (yes, plot!) develop. Evidently Grisham fancies himself a latter day Faulkner--he's got the wordiness down pat, just not the enduring worth underlying the long-winded prose.

Boring, boring, boring. I couldn't wait for this book to end.

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esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Great book, excellent narration

Revisado: 01-02-05

I really enjoyed this book--it got me hooked on Brad Meltzer. And, as always, Scott Brick's narration was superb. Don't listen to the nay sayers... this one's a keeper.

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esto le resultó útil a 5 personas